Insights
Appraisal Guides & Insights
Expert appraisal guidance — what drives value, when you need a USPAP-compliant appraisal, and how the process works.
Latest posts
Louisiana Boat Personal Property Tax by Parish: What New Orleans Owners Actually Owe
Louisiana boat personal property tax is set parish by parish, not by one statewide bill. This guide explains which parish can tax your vessel, why many gasoline-powered boats are exempt, and what records to keep if an assessor questions your value.
Read more →
How to Win a Louisiana Commercial Boat Property Tax Appeal on an Inflated Assessment
A Louisiana commercial boat property tax appeal follows a strict sequence: parish Board of Review, then the Louisiana Tax Commission, then district court, each with its own deadline. This guide walks owners of tugboats, OSVs, crew boats, and charter vessels through the filing requirements, the appeal path, and the evidence that actually moves an inflated assessment.
Read more →
Does Louisiana Charge Sales Tax on a Private Boat Sale Near Lake Pontchartrain?
Louisiana generally does not tax a casual, one-time boat sale between private individuals, but the rules change fast if the seller resells boats regularly or works through a broker. Here is how buyers near Lake Pontchartrain can tell which rule applies and protect themselves if the sale price is ever questioned.
Read more →
Date-of-Death Boat Valuation for a Louisiana Succession: What Heirs Need to Know
A Louisiana succession requires every boat to carry a fair market value as of the decedent's date of death, not a guide number or a later sale price. Here's why a documented date-of-death appraisal protects the succession representative and can double as federal estate tax support if the estate needs it.
Read more →
How to File Louisiana Form R-1331 for Watercraft Sales Tax Certification
Filing Louisiana Form R-1331 correctly is what stands between your new boat and a completed LDWF registration. This guide walks New Orleans-area buyers through every step, the paperwork each sale type requires, and when a professional appraisal belongs in the file.
Read more →
How the 2025 Louisiana Boat Sales Tax Cap Changes What Gulf Coast Buyers Owe
Louisiana now caps combined state and local sales tax on a registered boat at $20,000, but the math only helps buyers above a certain price point. Here is how the cap actually works for a New Orleans or Lake Pontchartrain purchase, and what documentation you need to claim it.
Read more →
When Does a Louisiana Boat Loan Require an SBA-Compliant Appraisal?
Louisiana shrimpers and charter operators financing a vessel through an SBA 7(a) or bank loan need to know when the lender will require an independent marine appraisal rather than a desktop review. This guide walks through the dollar thresholds, value definitions, and inspection standards that determine when an appraisal becomes mandatory.
Read more →
How Louisiana Succession Law Treats Boats and Other Movable Property
Louisiana's civil law succession system handles boats differently than probate in other states, and getting the value wrong on the sworn descriptive list can slow down a family's inheritance. Here's how succession representatives identify, list, and value a boat for a Louisiana estate.
Read more →
Louisiana Community Property and Boats: How Divorce Courts Value and Split a Vessel
In a Louisiana community property divorce, a boat bought during the marriage is presumed marital property no matter whose name is on the title, and state law values it as of trial, not the day you filed. This guide explains how classification, timing, and a neutral fair market value appraisal determine what each spouse actually walks away with.
Read more →
Louisiana Boat Insurance Claims for Hurricane Damage: How Appraisers Prove Pre-Loss Value
A Louisiana boat insurance claim for hurricane damage lives or dies on pre-loss value evidence. Here's how agreed value and actual cash value policies pay out differently, what documentation an appraiser needs, and how Louisiana's proof-of-loss deadline works.
Read more →
Louisiana's New Boat Sales Tax Cap Under Act 11: What Owners Must Know
Louisiana's new boat sales tax cap limits combined state and local tax on a registered vessel to $20,000, but only if you pay within 90 days and meet a handful of conditions under Act 11. Here is how the cap works, what Form R-1331 requires, and why a documented appraisal matters for boats brought in from out of state.
Read more →
Boat Appraisal Louisiana: How to Get Your Marine Vessel Professionally Valued
Louisiana boat owners need a formal appraisal for insurance claims, hurricane casualty losses, charitable donations, and succession or divorce matters, and that process is entirely separate from LDWF titling and registration. Here's when you need one, what it costs, and exactly how to get it done.
Read more →
Commercial Vessel Appraisal in Louisiana: What OSV, Tug, and Barge Owners Need
A commercial vessel appraisal in Louisiana values offshore supply vessels, tugs, barges, trawlers, and crew boats as income-producing assets, not pleasure craft. This guide explains when Gulf Coast operators need one, which valuation approach applies, and how USCG documentation shapes the appraiser's scope of work.
Read more →